Gearing up for a 1 Cam 1 Lens 1 Year Challenge

B-9

B-9

Devin Bro
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Always wanted to do this but I have always been too much of a gear head to stay locked down.

Life has a way of changing your outlook and circumstances.

I look at all these cameras, the little pieces parts, and the cases... the cases of ****.. it’s exhausting.

Time for a change!


So here I am. What kind of advice would you give on starting a project like this?

I’ve already picked the camera, the lens, and the film. Everything else is being liquidated in hopes of maintaining concentration.

10 years with RFF pouring over gear has left me with a incredible depth of knowledge on cameras and process. No regrets here! Thanks everyone for being the great people you are! What a seriously awesome community we have here!

Oh no Marie Kondo got me!
 
I know there has been more than a few of us who have done this over the years.

Any tips and tricks to keeping motivated and free of the urge to search gear!?
 
B-9 said:
I know there has been more than a few of us who have done this over the years.

Any tips and tricks to keeping motivated and free of the urge to search gear!?
Click to expand...

Deven,

It takes a lot of courage and commitment. Kudos to you for a new beginning. I have a hard time with beginnings and endings because of unresolved grief. Pretty much I fall apart from uncertainty.

So the camera, lens and film I would be interested in that you picked. I would want to know why.

One trick I do is make the camera special, or lens, or both special. A mystical story of divine intervention, or legendary tale kind of is self reinforcing. The problem for me is that many of my cameras have stories, legend and have become mythical. LOL.

As I approach retirement I also think long-long term. Why not make the rig a forever camera and go beyond a year.

I don't want remorse, but my old Wetzlar M6 has wear and tear I put on it. In a way that camera has become part of me. It is also my first Leica. Lens 35/1.8 Nikkor in LTM.

The F3P I own once was a real press camera that was owned by the newspaper "Newsday." I bought it right after Operation Desert Storm right after it had been completely overhauled. This is the camera I have owned the longest. For a lens I would use my Noct-Nikkor that I got at B&H as a miss pricing. $2.7K for a $3.5K lens.

If I had to restrict to only one camera I think it would be this baby Linhof Tech IV I bought for $800.00 that was sold as a kit with mucho accessories that included a Zeiss 100/2.8 Planar that had a lens separation that the seller was very upfront about. I kinda knew about the risk involved by having John at Focal Point attempt a repair.

Many said an element could shatter due to the dissimilar formulations and the heat involved required to separate the glued elements. Even if the repair failed I still would have to pay for the attempt as if fully repaired. The risk was mine.

So for $250.00 I got a pristine/perfect 100 Planar that could sell for $2K. Pretty much I won the lottery. Know that John at Focal Point soon retired there soon after. Understand the Tech IV and all the extras were worth the $800.00 alone.

So your rig better have a cool story to give that camera some "Mojo."

BTW my film for 120 would be Tri-X: if I had to do 135 Kodak 5222.

If I had to indulge myself the three above that I own and have a "history" with are the one's I would keep. Truth be told really practical and all I need. All the rest is a bonus.

Cal
 
Pretty basic kit but,

Camera:
Nikon F100 + 50/1.4D

Film:
Portra 400

The Story:
When I was much younger and the F100 could be got new at Ritz Camera (Remember those? Eek) I always lusted after it. So badass looking in the glass case. The guys at the counter would always let you fondle the display. I’ve never actually owned one after all these years. I’m a true F5 lover but it’s big for a do everything go everywhere for a year or more camera. The 50/1.4D because it is both affordable and classic. Portra 400 because it’s generally versatile, good skin tones, and C41 is cheap to develop. I’ve always leaned on Black and white films... guess I’m ready to see the world in color for a change? Eh I’ll prolly cheat tho and shoot a few rolls of Pan F 50 here and there mostly because I have it.

The F100 would be new to me. That should keep it interesting for a while atleast.

I am keeping a box of camera related stuff. Mostly the jewels from my Kodak display nothing I really use. Pack it up tight and throw it in storage. My display cases have already been claimed so it’s time.
 
Thirty four years ago I packed whatever belonging would fit in the trunk of a 1973 Dodge Dart, drove three thousand miles to a city I had never been to and started a new life. Best decision I ever made. More than once I've cleared out all the gear and used just one camera. Last time was a M6 TTL and a 35 Summicron for about four years. It's easy to be distracted by new gear. Just one more gadget, or a lens or whatever till the next thing. Good luck and much success with the upcoming changes. Having just one camera makes it much easier to decide what to take.
 
For four years all I had was an Olympus OM2n and a Zuiko 50mm f1.8. The lack of choice never stopped me taking bad photographs with which I was inordinately happy!
 
Deven,

Did you ever consider the F6?

I hope this does not come across as dissing the F100, but you mentioned the F5 and that it is too bulky and heavy.

To be fair I just want you to consider which might be the better camera for you. Cost should not be an issue because you intend on having just one camera.

I would look into both and make a careful decision.

I'm nearing retirement. About 9 years ago "Maggie" and I downsized to move into a one bedroom in Madhattan. Pretty much a fresh start that was liberating.

Our neighborhood was too poor in Long Island City to have stoop sales, so basically I put all the stuff in my front yard in the rundown old rowhouse we rented with a "Free" sign, and every day everything got vacuumed up.

Gave all our furniture away. Some went to this girl, a college grad, who was homeless, yet working at Public Storage, saving up to get her own place. Called the Salvation Army for the rest of the furniture, but realize they are short staffed and it took about a month for them to come by. This was just after Hurricane Irene.

Pretty much we bought all new furniture and had it delivered when we moved in. Made us realize how lucky were are. Felt good helping others less fortunate. Sadly in NYC all you have to do is look around.

I use to be a pack rat. Some of my friends accused me of single handedly downsizing Grumman when I worked there after the end of the Cold War. I had lots of car parts and airplane hardware that I recycle to friends who owned houses, had kids, and race cars.

I don't have remorse, and it is really funny how dragging around all this stuff that remained more or less useless once gave me a sense of home and belonging. I had old clothes I saved just in case I had to do an oil change on a car, but realize I no longer own a car...

Currently have been living where I live now (one bedroom in Madhattan) for about 9 years. This is the longest I ever lived in one place, and that includes my childhood.

Downsizing and simplifying my life has been the best healing and I have no remorse. Plan on starting a blog about bikes, cameras, and guitars.

All the best.

Cal
 
Looking forward to your Blog Cal!

Thinking about starting one myself. Prolly be more woodworking than anything. I am actively restoring a house, reclaiming a carriage barn, and preparing our house for a remodel.

Hoping to have this current house ready to flip by mid June and mine ready next May.

The carriage barn is a pet project of mine. I hope to re-assemble it as a cottage on a friends property and maybe get rid of the old motor home. We got a bitching new tent that slings over the Jeep and one of those fold out inflating camp beds. Should be a blast!
 
I have accumulation syndrome, so have nothing but admiration for your plan, Devin. I don't know Nikon gear so can't comment on body choice. I guess I'd favor small and simple, fwiw. Anyway, good luck on the plan and on your property DIYs, bravo!
 
B-9 said:
Looking forward to your Blog Cal!

Thinking about starting one myself. Prolly be more woodworking than anything. I am actively restoring a house, reclaiming a carriage barn, and preparing our house for a remodel.

Hoping to have this current house ready to flip by mid June and mine ready next May.

The carriage barn is a pet project of mine. I hope to re-assemble it as a cottage on a friends property and maybe get rid of the old motor home. We got a bitching new tent that slings over the Jeep and one of those fold out inflating camp beds. Should be a blast!
Click to expand...

Devin,

Did lots of construction work. Roofs, sheetrock. Even built out a loft in SoHo. Always had to do repairs and be a handyman.

Never a home owner.

Great to move forward. Seems pretty seamless for you. In fact one day I hope to have a place to call home. I have been moving around so much that I could say I'm kinda homeless in a ways.

One reason I was able to let go of pretty much all these reminders of my past so I had a sense of "home" is photography. I now realize that after the housing crisis it created a lot of uncertainty for me, and it was then when I got serious about shooting as much as I could. Some months for an entire season 150 rolls a month.

I now realize the reason why I was so obsessed is that I wanted to somehow record a sense of home despite that likely one day I will have to leave NYC because I most likely will be forced to leave. I'm not wealthy enough...

Cal
 
One way to simplify the whole ‘what lens’ thing is to use a fixed lens camera. That stops the temptation to slip another lens in a pocket. Of course you have already picked a set up but I have found self limitation useful so I cannot back out too easy.
 
If you're getting rid of gear.... shouldn't it be gearing down? ;)

I really ought to do some gearing down of my own. Too much G.A.S. and now I need to F.A.R.T. (Free And Re-sell/Trade). :D
 
Never done it, though it sounds fun.

I'd say a Nikon S2 & a 50/1.4, an Olympus OM-1 and an 85/2, a Bessa L with a CV Snap-Shot 25/4, or a Nikon F2 with a 28/2.8 AIs.

Anyone of those four will provide great times and challenge you to create better images.

I don't have the cash for the film or time right now or I'd join you.

B2 (;->
 
Cal, have not considered the F6.

Really only one reason.

I can't afford it. lol

Mostly because I have been selling and instead of saving been paying on bills outside of my camera hobby as well as finishing up loose ends on some other projects.

I could probably find one under 900$ and use bill me later.... hmm sounds involved and I'm not big on payments. But if someone wanted to get rid of theirs on a monthly payment arrangement you might catch me in a good mood :)
 
I hope a good condition F100 would last more than a few years.

But your right. Possibilities. Should be cheap enough to replace.
 
I would but I have several cameras I really like to use and don't want to sell them or NOT use them. But, if I did it would be either my Leica R7 and 35 Elmarit III or newly CLA'd Canon F1 with FL 35mm f/2.5 lens. Both great kits and excellent lenses. Then it would be Portra 160 for film. I can't do it for a year though since I have four really nice TLRs I love to shoot. Even if chose one of the TLRs I would miss the R7/F1 kits.

Count me out...
 
I think the F100 and 50mm f1.4 lens are both excellent choices. I don't really see that there is anything an F6 would add to the equation personally ... especially considering the self imposed lens restriction.
 
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